Clutch for speed change and other gearing



April 2, 1940. FRASER 2,195,410

CLUTCH FOR SPEED CHANGE AND OTHER GEARING Original Filed Sept. 27, 1932 W 9. p 10. W JO. y

W I/WE/VIoR Patented Apr. 2, 1940 I CLUTCH FOR SPEED CHANGE AND GEARING I I OTHER i 'Geo'rge Holt Fraser, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Q Originalapplication-September 27, 1932, Serial No. 635,054. Divided and this application October 20, 1936, Serial .June 28, 19:39

No. 106,602. Renewed 25 Claims. (01. 192-71) This application is a. division of my original application Serial No. 635,054, filed September 2'7,

This invention improvements in such devices.

preferably provide an improved axially'movable Ways in their adjacent peripheries, I preferablyprovide an improved semi-cylindrical oscillatory key pivoted in one and oscillatory into the other of said *keyways for. drive engagement of said parts, and oscillatory out of said keyway for drive I disengagement ofsaid parts, one such key being preferably provided for each driven part; and I oscillator for said key, for holding it in drive disengagement position, and for oscillating it into drive engagement with said driven part; and I preferably provide various other features of imof cut approximately on the plane of the line 3-3 inFig. iand looking in the direction of the arrows; showing the drive member and its key provement, all of which will be hereinafter morefully set forth in their preferred embodiment as a unitary clutch, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in whichv 1 Fig. 1 isa fragmentary vertical section of a unitary clutch unit cut on. the line 'l--I of, Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; showing the ,key in drive disengagement position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical, cross section thereof cut on the line '2 .2'of Fig. 1 and looking in drive disengagement position;

Fig.3 is a framentary horizontal section in the direction of the arrows, showing the key thereseat, and the key and oscillator, in theirclutched position;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary 'cros'ssectio'n thereof cut approximately on the line 4-1-4 IinI'Fig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows,showing the key in drive engagement position;

Fig. 5 is 'a fragmentary sideelevation of the oscillator taken on the line 5-.5 in Figs. 6 and lookingiin the direction of therarrows;

Fig. 6.is an endview of I the oscillator taken on the line .6-6,'in Fig. 5 and looking in the die rection of the arrows;v I

relates no clutches for trans- :rimitting rotary motion ofa driveshaft, or. part, to ad'riven shaft, orpartgand aims to provide engagement and disengagehaving a keyway reciprocal to said seat.

Fig. 7 is ,a fragmentary plan view of the drive member or shaft showing its keyseat and slide-. way taken on the line'1--l in Fig. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8, is an end view thereof taken on the line 88 in Fig. 7 and looking in the direction of the, arrows; i 3

Fig. 9 is a side view of the key taken on the line 9-9-9 in Fig. 10 and looking in the direction of the'arrows; 1

Fig-l0 is an end view of the key taken on the line lit -l0 in Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '11 is a fragmentary :cross section showing 1 a modification, and

Fig. 12 is' a "similar fragmentary cross section v I I indicate a rotary shaft member, E a'rotary gear orother memberrotatably mounted thereon, J clutch means therebetween, and L a clutch control operator for operating the clutch J.

These parts maybe of any usual or suitable construction orprinciple of operation for transmitting the rotation of a drive shaft or member to a driven-part or member and for terminating such tansmission.

The shaft I is usually a rotary drive member, and the gear'or part E is usually a rotatable driven member in operative relation to and adapted to berotated by the drive member, one of said parts having a keyseat in which one member of the clutch J is oscillatorily mounted, and the other The clutch means J usually comprises an oscillatory key c.- for drive engagement and disengagement of said members when the oscillator is moved axially to oscillate the key; I

I The shaft I is usually formed with a semi-cylindrical axially extended keyseat b, and the member E is usually formed with a semi-cylindrical keyway a reciprocal to and movable into coincidence with saidkeyseat, and the key 0 is usually formed with a semi-cylindrical transmission portion d oscillatorily fitted in the seat I), and

with a flatter or convex portion e oscillatory into coincidence with the adjacent peripheries of the members I and E for terminating transmission,

and oscillatory into the keyway a for drive engagement'ofsaid members. The oscillator L is usually slidable faxially of the key 0, and operable coihcidently with such-axial movement to oscillatezthe keyiinto or out of its drive engagement position for. controlling transmission.

. According to the preferred form of my present invention as used with a semi-cylindrical oscillatory key having a round aide in its keyseat and sion of the latter, and from within its keyseat;

and I preferably dispose its oscillator at such round side and within its keyseat, and I prefer-' ably form its oscillator with an axially extended concave or hollow portion into which the round side of the key is extended and within which it is oscillatory transversely of the oscillator, for slidably positioning the oscillator from the round side of the key and utilizing the hollow side of the oscillator to peripherally embrace the round side of the key; and I preferably radially restrain the key from its round side and from within its keyseat; and preferably by a radial retention overhung connection between its round side and the hollow side of its oscillatoradapted to radially, slidably, and oscillatorily connect these; and I preferably provide the'key and oscillator the one with an oscillation projection and the other with an axially extended cam portion interengaged at the round side of the key for circumferentially oscillating it from its round periphery with movement of the oscillator axially of the key.

Any suitable means for oscillatingthe key ma be employed, but preferably according to one feature of my invention -I provide an improved axially slidable operator L, preferably having a particylindrical axially extended, concave wall ffitting the key 0, and a parti-cylindrical wall g and flat sides It slidably fitted in a groove i, which operator preferably has a flared or undercut overhung, or beveled, axially extended camgroove or slot 7', engaging a preferably spherical or flared, or overhung, radial projection 70, carried by the ke for retaining the latter radially in its shaft, and for oscillating the key. For this purpose the operator is preferably formed with a laterally extending cam portion 1, which engages and pref:

,erably overhangs the sphere is, and oscillates the key when the operator L is slid into position for locking the key 0, the rest of the slot 9' holding the sphere 7c and key in neutral position. v

The operator L is preferably long enough so that the length of its slot 7' may engage the sphere is in all its positions, and this slot is preferably open at one end of the operator for permitting it to be slid over any key 0 with which it is used, and the groove 2' is preferably long enough to pro- ,vide for the necessary travel of the operator L,

which is preferably radially and'slidablyheld in the groove by retainer lugs m carried by collars n at each side of the key 0. These collars axially retain the gear E in position on its shaft to which these collars are fixed and with which they revolve. The lugs m axially retain the key a in position relatively to the gear E,'so that the operator may slide axially of the gear and the key without axially displacing these.

The keyway a in the gear is preferably an empty recess when the key 0 is in the unlocked position, and affords a clear and unobstructed space for entrance of the key as it approaches coincidence with the latter.

Although the key 0, when in an unclutched position, is restrained against centrifugal action when its keyseat b exceeds half of its diameter, and is further restrained when its operating projection. of pin k overhangs the side walls. of the slot :i, I prefer to make the key 0 tubular and to journal it oscillatorily 'on-an axially extended retainer pino, the ends of which are mounted in the retainer lugs or blocks m, around which pin the key is free to oscillate, and by which it is positioned and restrained from radial displacement, while free for movement and controlled by the operator L. The periphery of the pin 0' is preferabl located inwardly of the outer convex wall e of the key, so that the pin and thehole through which it is passed may be cylindrical without exceeding the radius of this wall, thus keeping the pin within the inner periphery of the corresponding gear. When desired the pin 0 alone may be relied on for resisting centrifugal displacement of its key.

The oscillator L may be moved in any desired manner, but when it is a bifurcated member as shown, I prefer to attach its solid end by a lug p to a grooved ring q slidably mounted around the keyseat b, and axially moved in any suitable manner, as from without it'by the shifter z, or other axial movement provision, for shifting the operator andcontrolling or oscillating the key dur-' ing revolution of the shaft within the gear mounted thereon. whereby the speed of the driven shaft may be controlled. or changed when operated under full load, or full torque, or at full or any speed.

When ball bearings are .desired'between the gear E and the shaft I, my invention preferably uses narrow axially spaced anti-frictional bearings ll i between these, preferably by forming eachgear with an annular recess r in which is pressed an annular female race member s, connected by antifrictional rollers 15 with an annular male race it sustaining the gear from its shaft and encircling the ends of its oscillatory key c. These ends are preferably reducedopposlte the race a at v, to permit the key to oscillate, so that its intermediate portion may enter the keywaya between the races, to then look the gear to its shaft, so that the gear may be carried from its shaft by the spaced ball bearings, and may be locked to its shaft by oscillation of the intermediate portion of the key c into engagement with thekeyway a intermediate'of these ball bearingsl g In operation the key 0 is preferably passively, circumferentially oscillatory, and its cam portion k will ,project radially inwardly from its cylindrical periphery and be axially s 'dingly embraced by the undercut walls of the cam groove 7' of the oscillator, the axially sinuous cam faces Z of which will act tangentially of the circumferential pe-- .ripheries of the key for peripherally oscillating it into and out of drive engagement position, and the overhung engagement betwen the projection 7c and the slot 9' will tensionally'restrain key-displacement by gravity or centrifugal or other force.

It will be understood that my invention is not limitedto the particular details of construction,

arrangement, use, or combination of parts, set

forth and shown as embodying its preferred form, since it can be availed of in whole or in part according to such modifications of these as circumstances or the judgment of thoseskilled'in the art mayclictate, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the'inventi'on. i 2' v The operator L may be "ofany suitable crosssection other than the convex cross-section illustrated and may embrace more or less of the p'eriphery'of the key 0 than shown, and its slideway 2 may be of any suitable cross-section. If the operator is"semicircular andembraces'the circumference of the key the keyseat will be correspondingly larger and the operator will constitute sides for resisting lateral pressure of the operator L. y a I If the main body of the oscillatorL is cylindrical its jackshaft will be centrally bored to slidingly and retentively receive it, and the key 0 and key-- seatb will be deep enough to intersect this bore, to

permit a circumferentially oscillatory and radially retentive connection therein'between the round side of the keyand the hollow side of the oscilla-' tor, andto afford communication from the oscillator to without the periphery of the jackshaft, in

iwhich the oscillator may be'axially shifted, as

shown at 12, 12,122, 1'2, k2,'and 02, in Fig. 11.

What I claim is:

1; In a clutch, a rotary :drive member, a rotat- 'able'drivenmember in operative relation toand i1 adapted to be rotated by said drive member, one

of said members having a keyseat and the other having a keyway cooperablewith said keyseat, a

' and from intermediate such extension.

circumferentially oscillatory keyhaving a round side in said keyseat and having-a flatter side oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive engagement and disengagement of said members, andan axially movable oscillator for oscillating said key, in combination witha circumferentially active oscillation connection between said key and said oscillator at-Ithe round side" of said key, in circumferentially oscillatory operative relation to said round'side of said key and adapted to circumf'erentially"oscillate'said key into and out of such engagementfrom the round side of said key.

2. In a clutch, a'rotary drive member, a rotatable driven member in operative relation to and adaptedtoj be rotated by said drive member, one -ofsaid members having a keyseat and the other having a keyway cooperable with said keyseat, a

circumferentially oscillatory key having in the same transverse plane a round side in said'keyseat and a flatter side oscillatory: into and out :of said keyway, for drive engagement and disengagement of said members, and an oscillator forcircumferentially oscillating said key, in combination with a circumferentially active oscillation connection between said key and said oscillatordisposed in said transverse plane and at and in circumferentially oscillatory relation to the round side of said ,key, and adapted to circumferentially, oscillate said key from said oscillator into and out of such engagement from within said transverse plane.

3. In aclutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatcircumferentially "oscillatory semi-cylindrical key having a round side in saidkeyseat and having a flatter side oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive connection and disconnection of said members, and a circumferential oscillator for said key, in combination'with a circumferentially oscillatorily'active connection between said key and said oscillator at and in circumferentially oscillatory relation to the round side of said key and intermediate the longitudinal extension of the latter, for circumferentially oscillating said key from said oscillator, transversely active in reverse directions, comprising an'axially extended cam groove in one thereof transversely active in reverse directions, and a projection carried by the other thereof and extended into slidable engagement with and embraced by said groove, said groove and projection constructed and arranged for terminating said drive connection.

to in responseto axial movement of said oscillator oscillate said key in one direction for effecting said drive connection, and in the reverse direction v 4. Ina clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatable driven member in operative relation to and:

adapted to be rotated by said drive member, one of said members having a'keyseat and the other a keyway cooperablewith said keyseat, a semicylindrical oscillatory key'having a semi-cylindrical side in saidkeyseat'and a flatterside oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive engagement and disengagement of said members, and an oscillator foroscillating said key, in combination with a circumferentially oscillatorily active oscillation connection between said key and said oscil-- lator at the semi-cylindrical side of said key and within the longitudinal vextensionofsaid flatter I side, in circumferentially active operative relation 5. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotat-' able driven member in operative relation to and adapted to be rotatedby said drivemember, one.

of said members having a keyseat and the other having a keyway cooperable with said keyseat, a circumferentiallyoscillatory semi-cylindrical key I having a round side in said keyseat and a flatter side oscillatory into-and out of said keyway, for drive connection anddisconnection of said members, and an axially movable oscillator-for said key, in combination'with an, oscillation connection between said key and said oscillator and within said keyseat at and in circumferentially active oscillatory relation to ,,the round side of said key, and adapted to circumferentially oscillate said key into and out of such engagement from within said keyseat and from said roundside with axialmovement of said oscillator.

6. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatable driven member inoperative relation to and adapted to be'rotated byv saiddrive member, one

- of said members having a keyseat and the other of said members, in combination with an'axially movable oscillator for said key within and axially movable within'said keyseat and inwardly of and in circumferentially active operative relation to the roundside of said key within said keyseat and adapted when axially moved to circumferentially oscillate said key from within said keyseat.-

7. In a'clutch, a rotary drive membena retatable driven member in operative relation to and adapted to be rotatedby said drive member,

one of said members having a keyseat and the I other having a keyway cooperable with Saidkeyseat, an oscillatory key having an inner. portion a in said keyseat .and having an outer portion oscillatory, into and out of'said keyway, for drive.

engagement and disengagement of saidmembers, in combination with an axially movable oscillator inwardly of said'keyseat and movable axially. of said key, for oscillating said'key, said" key and oscillator having the one an axially extended sinuousjcam portion transversely active in reverse directions, and the other a cam pro jection in operative relation to and slidably over,

hung by said cam portiomsaid portion and pro-, jection adapted to oscillate said key in two dlrec-' tions for oscillating said key from inwardly of said keyseat into and out of such engagement with axial movement of said oscillator.

8. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatable driven member in operative relation to and having a flatter side oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive engagement and dis-, engagement of said members, in combination with a positive circumferential oscillator for said 1:13 inwardly of and in operative relation to the semi-cylindrical. side of said key and movable,

axially of said l-Ieyseat for oscillating said key, and constructed and arranged to positively cir-r curnferentially oscillate said key into and out of .LLl-Li'l engagement with such movement.

9. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotat'able driven member in operative relation to, i

' and adapted to be rotated by said drive member,

one of said members having akeyseat and the ctlier having a keyway, cooperable with said keyseat, a circumferentially oscillatory key having a round side insaid keyseat and a flatter side'oscillatory into andout of said, keyway, for drive engagement disengagement of said members, in combination with an axially movable oscillator for said key inwardly of said keyseat, and having a concave facefitting against and slidable axially of the round side of said key, and a circumferential oscillation connection'between said key and said oscillator. within said concave face;

and adapted to circumferentially oscillate said key with axial movement of said oscillator.

'10. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatabledriven member in operative relation to adapted to be rotated by saiddrive member, one of said members having akeyseat and the, other. having a keyway cooperable with said keyseat, and a semi cylindrical oscillatory key having a round side in'said keyseat and a flatter side oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive engagement and disengagement of said members, in combination with an axially movable oscillator inwardly of said round side and movaxially thereof and of said key for oscillating said key, said key and said oscillator having the one an axially extended cam face and the other a cam projection at the side of and in axially slidable and circumferentiall-y oscillatory operative relation to said face, and adapted to circumierentially oscillate said key from said round side with axial movement of said oscillator.

' 11. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatable driven member in operative relation to- {and out of said keyway, for drive engagement and disengagement of said members, and an axiall movable oscillator movable axiall of said key for oscillating said key, the combination therewith of an oscillation projection carried by and extended beyond the round side of said key and extended therefrom into and circumferentially oscillatory in said recess, and a cam face within said recess and at the round side of said key and at the side of said projection and carried byand axially movable with said oscillator, and

in :circmnferentially oscillatory relation to said projection, and adapted to circumferentially oscillate said key from Within said recess with axial movement of said oscillator. i

12. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatable driven member in operative relation to and adapted to be rotated by said drive member,

one of said members having a keyseat having an internal slideway, and the other having a keyway reciprocal to said keyseat, and a semi-cylindrical circumferentially oscillatory key, having a round side in said keyseat and a flatter side oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive engagement and disengagement of said members, in combination with an axially movable oscillator within said slideway, movable axially of said key and axially slidable within said slideway, said key and said oscillator having within said slideway the one an oscillation projection and the other an axially extendedfgroove entered by and in axially slidable engagement with said projection and adapted to circumferentially oscillate said key transversely of said slideway with axial movement of said oscillator.

13. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatable'driven member in operative relation to and adapted to be rotated by said drive member, one of said parts having a keys'eat and the other having a keyway cooperable with said keyseat, a.

circumferentially oscillatory semi-cylindrical key having a round side in said keyseat and having a flatter side oscillatory into and out of; said keyway, for drive engagement and disengagement or said members, and oscillation means in operative relation to said key for oscillating said key, in combination with radial retention means forsaid key inwardly of said keyseat, for radially retainingsaid key therein, comprising circumferentially movably engaged overhung and undercut provisions carried by. said keyseat and said key and overhangingly engaged inwardly of said keyseat and adapted to overhangingly circumferentially movably and radially hold said key in said keyseat from inwardly of the latter. 7

l4. Ina clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatable driven member in operative relation to and adapted to be rotated by said, drive member, one of said members having a keyseat and an axial slideway in communication with said keyseat and the other having a keyway cooperable withsaid keyseat, a semi-cylindrical circumferentially oscillatory key having a round portion in said keyseat and a flatter portion oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive'connection and disconnection of said members, and an axially slidable oscillator in said slideway and slidable axially of said key and in operative'relation thereto for 'circumferentially oscillating said key, in combination with radial retention connection means between said key and said oscillator comprising overhung circumferentially oscillatorily interengaged provisions carried by said key and said oscillator in radially retentive overhung relation within said slideway; for radially connecting, and axially andv circumferentially movably connecting, said key and said oscillator from within said slideway.

15. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatable driven member .in operative relation to and adapted to be rotated by said drive member, one of said members having a key seat and an axially extended slideway in communication with said keyseat, and the other having a keyway cooperable with said keyseat, a semi-cylindrical circumferentially oscillatory key having a round connection and disconnection of said members,

portion in said keyseat andeXtended into said slideway and having a flatter portion oscillatory 1 into and out of said keyway, for drive connection and disconnection of said members, in co bination with an axially slidable oscillator-in said slideway and slidable axially of said key, having an axially extended concave face at and circumferentially oscillatorily entered by the round side of said key, for permitting circumferential osciland adapted to be rotated by said drive member,

one of said members having a keyseat and an axially extended slideway in communication with said keyseat and the other having a keyway cooperable withsaid keyseat, and a semicylindrical circumferentially oscillatory key having a round portioninsaid keyseat and extended within said slideway and having a flatter portion oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drives connection and disconnection of said members,

in combination with an axially movable oscillator in and slidable axially of said slideway and axially of said key, having .a hollowed side adjacent and entered by the round side of said key and across which said round side is circumferentially oscillatory, said key and oscillator having at said hollow side, the one a cam provision and the other an oscillation projection in operative relation to said cam provision, and adapted to circumferentially oscillate said key from and adapted to be rotated by said drive member,

within said hollow side with axial movement or said oscillator.

17. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, tatable driven member in operative relation to and adapted to be rotated by said drive member, one of said members having a keyseat and a recess in communication with said keyseat, and the other having a keyway cooperable with said keyseat, a semi-cylindrical circumferentially oscillatory key having a round portion in said keyseat and circumferentially oscillatory withinsaid recess and havinga flatter portion oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive connection and disconnection of said members, and an axially slidable oscillator in said recess and slidable azn'ally of said key for oscillating said key,

said oscillator having a concave faceslidably fitted against the round side of said key and within which said key is circumferentially oscillatory, and circumferentially oscillatory interen'gaged overhung. cam provisions between said key and said oscillator adapted to circumferen-v circumferentially oscillatory key having a roundv portion in said keyseat and oscillatory within said slideway and having a flatter portion oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive a roseat, a semi-cylindrical circumferentially oscilan axially slidable oscillator slidable in said slideway and axially of said key and in operative relation to the latter for circumferentially oscillatingsaidikey, radially; retentive means for ra- -dially retaining said oscillator in said slideway,

and overhangingly interengaged radially retentive oscillation provisions between said key and said oscillator adapted'to circumferentially oscillate said key transversely of said oscillator with movement of the latter axially of the key and to radially retain said key in said keyseat during such oscillation.

' 19. In aclutch, a rotary drive -member,-a rotatable driven member in operative relation to and adapted to be rotated by said drivemember,

one of said members having a keyseat and a slideway in communication and extended axially of said keyseat, and the other having a keyway cooperable with said keyseat, a semi-cylindrical po'rtionxin said keyseat andv oscillatory into said slideway, and having a flatter portion oscillatory into and out of said keyway, for drive connection anddisconnection of said members,and a slidable oscillator in said slideway and slidable axially of said key for oscillating said key and in operative relation thereto for circumferentially oscillating said key, said keyand said oscillator having the one an undercut axially extended cam groove and the other a projection entered within and in axially slidable engagement with said groove, said groove andprojection in operative relation and adapted to circumferentially 1 oscillate saidfkey with movement of said oscillator axially of said key.

20. In a clutch, a rotary drive member, a rotatable driven member in operative relation to one of said members having a keyseat and the other having a keyway cooperable with said keylatory key having a round portion in said keyseat and a flatter portion oscillatory into and out of said keyway,'for drive connection and disconnection of said members, and an axially slid-f able oscillator slidable axially of and in operative relation to said key for "circumferentially Crl' circumferentially. oscillatory key having a round oscillating the key, said key and oscillator having the one a cam groove in operativerelation to and extended'axially of the round side of said .key, and the other a flared radially extended projection extended into and slidably engagedby said camgroove, adapted to circumferentially oscillate said key transversely of said' oscillator with axial movement of the latter, said projection being undercut for facilitating such oscil- .21. In aclutch according to claim 4, said key having the flatter side extended throughout its tended from and beyond its semi-cylindrical periphery.

23. In a clutch according to claim 4, the flatter side of the semi-cylindrical key having a cutawayportion extended inwardly from the periphery of the keyseated member a distance equal to the oscillation of the key, for oscillating;

inwardly of such periphery during oscillation of the key. I

24. In a clutch accordingto claim 12, the key-:

seated member having a. cylindrical bore constituting the slideway, and the oscillator having 25. In a clutch according to claim 10, the cam projection having a hemi-spherical periphery at the side of and in operative relation to the cam face.

GEORGE HOLT FRASER. 

